Potato-planter.



PATENTED AUG. 27, 1907 HG, memes. I

' L. A. ASPINWALL.

POTATO PLANTER. APPLIOA'ITIOS FILED APR. 9. 1906.

a sHBBTs SHEET 1.

Ill L PAT-BNTBD AUG. .27

L..A. ASPINWALL. -.POTATO PLANTER. W A-PI LIOA'IIQN FILED APR. 9, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No". 864,595.- PATENTED AUG. 2-7, 1907.

L. A. ASPINWALL.

POTATO PLANTER.

APPLIUATION FILED APR, 9 1906 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

7 7 v I v v LEWIS ADGIJSTLS ASPIRWALL, OF JACIibOX, MICHIGAN," ASSIGNOR TO ASPINWALL MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OI, JACKSON, MICHIGAN.. A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

POTATO-PLANTER.

Ndsgses.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 27, 1907.

uApplication fi1ed April9,l906. Serial n. 310,601. I

. v I I To all whom it may concern; 7

The object of my present invention is to make more fully efhcient the structure heretofore'employed h me and to obviate difficulties whichexperience has rought to light so that the automatic and successful planting of potatoes by machinery may be more perfectly performed. v V

V In the device of my present invention I employ a sack hopper suitably connected at'its upper end to a 7 metal frame for support, and as the said hopper is flexible it prevents the tendency of the potatoes to bridge in the hopper, and I prefer to employ two of these sack hoppers the same coming at oppositesides of central spring-held concaves through. which the pickers move and which concaves and pickersuare clearly shown and described in my aforesaid patent. In connection'with these sack hoppers I employ devices permitting the progressive descent by gravity of the potatoes in the hoppers. Theseare feeding devices in the nature of plates constituting gates which press against the inner surfaces of the sack hoppers and serve to agitate the same; said gates being in' turn mounted upon a rocker bar and actuated by a toggle and pivoted connecting rod from the axle of'the machine. .With these devices I employ a regulating thumb screw, the operation of which is to change the relation of the toggle and the connecting bar to the gate or to straighten the toggle so that more or less 40 motion may be imparted to the gates, and I employ a spring connected at one end to the fixed seat post and at its other end to one end of the toggle. The spring serves to hold the gate. in position and at the lower end of said gates I employ gravity members whose function is a retarding action on the out-flowing of the potatoes from the sack hoppers.

In my present invention I obviate the tendency of the potatoes to lodge between the disk supports of the pickers by providing low cut heads secured to a sleeve about the axle and place pickers in alternate series so that there is no opportunity for the potatoes to lodge between the parts.

For the purpose of regulating the delivery to the soil of potatoes from the hopper and for changing the r m-v; f delivery I employ a series of gears, one of I or thrown out of operation.

function of whichis to deliver the soil over the potawhich is fast upon the axle ofthe machine and one of whichis secured to a loosely mounted main wheel; said gears meshing with others superimposed upon a stud of the-frame. v v V For the purpose ofapplying the power more conveniently for the operation of the coverers I employ a spring actuated lever device.

I have found that certain places the rows of potatoes arexplanted much closer together than in other places and to prevent the horses walking on the ridge '6 5' of the previously planted row, I employdevi'ces for changing the line of draft of the machine. These devices consist essentially of a platform supporting a divided pole and connected by parallel bars to a platform of the frame of the machine and connected by a seg- 7 0 ment rack, pinion and a handle together with locking devices for fixing the predeterminedrelations of these parts. I further employ improved devices for mounting and supporting the coverers to and from the main mile of the machine and for applying the necessary power for insuring the performance of their function.

My aforesaid features of-improvement are hereinafter more particularly described.

In thedrawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view rep resenting the essential features of the machine of my improvement at the left hand side. Fig. .2 is a vertical longitudinal section and partial elevation .on the dotted line :1:,-:v, of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section and elevation on the plane of the axle of; the machine. I Fig. 4 is a plan and Fig. 5 a side elevation at the forward part of the machine by the divided pole, and by means of which the line of draft of the machine is altered. Fig. 6 is a horizontal, section and partial plan view showing the gear devices by which the speed of the pickers is changed. Figs. 7 and S are cross sections of the axle and elevations of the clutch device by which the pickers are brought into Fig. 9 is a side elevation and Fig. 10 a plan in larger size showing more in de tail my improvements in the coverer devices generally illustrated in Fig. 1. v

The parts which are not necessary to my present improvements but which are essentially shown in Fig. 1 and form essential parts oi my improved potatoplanter comprise the frame 2, the main axle 3, the wheels 4 and 5 mounted on the ends of the main axle, theplow or furrow opener 6 which is supported in an adjustable relation to the frame, the hopper 7 into which the potatoe descend by gravity from the sack hopper and which hopper is supported from the frame and by sleeves 17 which surround the main axle. A seat 8 for a'driver is supported upon a seat standard 9 secured to the irarne of the machine and 10 represents the coverers at the rear of the potato-planter and the toes as deposited so as to form a ridge of earth. 11 represents a divided pole similar to that shown in my atloresaid patent, 13 are the pickers and 14 the concaves in which the pickers take up on their prongs the potatoes to 'be planted..

a; a ,'represent my improved sack hoppers formed 7 ot' flen'ible material of tapering outline largest at the I upper end and securely fastened in any desired manner tolastrap'frame b of metal at their upper ends.

As shoivn in the section Fig. 2, I prefer that the strap frame I) have its counterpart inside the frame member or members and I employ bolts passing through said parts and through the sack hoppers to make a- .tight an secure joint of the parts for supporting the 'sacli'hop ers at their upper ends. The strap frame I) is supported by vertical frame members 1), b generally arranged vertically andat their upperends bolted to t e strap frame b and at their lower ends connected by he bolts b to the upper side portions of themagazin 7. Thesupport for these sack hoppers is thus exceedirigly rigid and the lower contracted ends of these sack-hoppers come within flange prolongations b of the magazine or receiving hopper. I employ a rocker bar 0 .with trunnion ends in bearing lugs c which lugs are formed" with or bolted to the vertical frame members b; b.

d, d, represent the 'g'ateswhich are in the form of vertically elongated metal plates securely connected to the rocker bar 0 by bolts 0 with their lower ends bent at an obtuse-angle to the main portions and the sides of the lower ends and bent portion provided with one or more ribbed edges d which stiffen the same.

Surrounding the main axle 3 between the sleeves 17 and extendingacross within the limits of the re- .ceiving magaz ne 7, is a sleeve 20 forming a part of .the picker head and having an eccentric e thereon. A connecting rod e is provided with a casing e and the casing surrounds the eccentric e so that with the :Oinovement of the axle and the sleeve 20 and picker I head, the eccentric imparts a longitudinal or reciproeating movement to the connecting rod e. A' toggle bar f is at its lower end pi'votally connected tothe upper slotted endoi the connecting rod e and at its upper end said. toggle bar is pivotally connected to a lug at the upper endof one of the gates d, and I employ a thumb screw passing through this toggle bar and its pointed end reaching to contact'with the face of the gate and a. spring g is at one end secured to an eye at the-upper'end oithe said toggle bar f and at its other end to an eye upon the fixed seat rod 9. At the lower ends of the gates 'd, d, are pivoted gravity members h. These are shown in elevation in Fig. 3 and in vertical section in Fig. 2, and the opposite position of the gate to the one shown in full lines in Fig. Z -is indicated in said figure by dotted lines.

The rotation of the main axle 3 and the operation of the eccentric e imparts movement to the connecting rod .e and toggle bar f and against the tension of the ,s" ring 9 a rocking movement to the bar 0 which is imparted-to the gates (I, one extreme movement being 4 shown in full lilies, Fig 2, and the other in dotted lines. This causes an agitation of the potatoes in the hopper and provides room for the periodical descent of the potatoes from the sack hoppers into the main asses I I hopper 7. The function, of the gravity members 72,

especially in the dotted position of the parts, being to prevent a too ra )id movement or delivery of the mmtoes from the hoppers to the main hopper. A slot inthe upper end of the connec ti'rig rod prevents a full return of the gates until the potatoes are partly removed by the pickers when by spring, they return and by lesser a n he ply of potatoes unitorm. Bets-ween Inc anion or spring 9 and the thumb screw f the gates according to the quantityp' ,ota with every rotatibri ot the eccentric' g position shown in Fig. 2. v The supports for the pickers-I3 of 'fmy improved form are shown particularlyin Figs. 2 and 3, in which the three-part low cut heads 2' are secured to the sleeve 20 at spaced apart intervals and havebolted to them the series of picker devices. While I have shown these picker devices ind'etail itheyper se, do not form any part of my present invention over and above the disclosure in my aforesaid patent; the novelty and utility of. these heads being. in doingaway with a possible lodgment or clogging of the potatoes in the, hopper, or in other words, preventingt getting between said heads where the :Wll' to lodge and clog and be carried over th machine when planting on downward hill is the case with the construction of these p shown in my Patent No. 342,491. and which-dilticulty the device of my present inventionovercomes.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 6 the main wheel 4 of the machine is show n'as loose upon the axle. being simply held in position by a cap washer and pin upon the end of the axle. In these figures k represe'ntsia gear which surrounds a hub of the wheel 4 and which has lugs provided therewith and is secured to tliejspoltcs of the said main wheel 4 byeyes and bolts 1:, orinany other convenient manner. i

Iprovide a stud l suitably secured and firmly {as tened to thei'rame 2 of the potato planterand gears l l mounted upon the said stud and held in position by a ring washer andpin upon the outerend of the stud.

The gear I is in mesh with the gear I: of the wheel 4 and the gear 1'' upon this stud Z and which comes directly behind the gear I is connected to the gear I by projections which pass into recesses or the said gear I and thus interlock as showh in Fig. (i; said gear 1' being in mesh with the gear in in united upon the main axle 3 and connected therenrby a pin shown in Figs. 3

and 6 the rotary movement and power being commu nicated from the wheel 4 through the gear k to the gears Z l iand by the latter gear l to lhegcar m and axle and from the axlethrough thc heads 1' to the pickers 13 of the series. The gear I: is readily l'kllltlvilhlt from the main wheel 4 and is interchangeable with a larger or smaller gear and the gear I (in tho stud I is also easily removable and is intercluingcable ,with a larger, or smaller gear according to the size of the gear sccnred'to the main wheel 4. These gears being interchangeable provide for changing the ratio of speed or rotary move- I25 as shown in Fig. 8, the said collar and clutch shell being or causing said parts to turn together. One head i asshown in Fig. 3 is provided with splines shown in Fig.

provided with a flange and its inher face with opposite teeth to be engaged by the teeth shown in Fig. 8 upon the face of the clutch shell. Normally these parts are in engagement by virtue of the expansion of the aid spring. They may however be separated by the ac tion of a lever 0, the hub of which-surrou'ndsthe clutch shell n and the movement of which slides the clutch shell over the collar separating the interlocking teeth which communicate the movement. These devices are to be brought in evidence when the potato-planter is being conveyed from a place of storage to the field or on the return, and during which time it is not desirable to operate the picker devices or the gate devices in connection with the hoppers. I

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 9 and 10 in connection with the leverage devices for holding down the coverers 10. these coverers are disks of metal set in converging planes and mounted uponashaft which in turn is suitably connected to arms 15. as shown in my aforesaid patent. and in the device of my present invention these arms 15 are pivotally connected to lugs 30 on themain axle'of the ma chine and they have c-onnect- I ed to them brackets 16 which with the free ends of the.

arms 15 are also pivoted to the lugs 30. the construction being forked. A yoke-bar 37 which crosses over forward of the'seat rod .9", or in other words. which 'brought into play either to raise the coverers or to force the same deeper into the soil. and I employ a spring 19 connected at one end to an eye of the vertical frame member b and at its other end to a bracket eye-bar 31 mounted upon the said yoke bar 27. The function of this spring 19 is to draw upon the said yoke bar and convert the same for downward pressure into a lever whose effect is againstthe arms 15 through the brackets l6 to force the cojvcrcrs 10 into the soil and to hold them in position to their work. Their function may be augmented by a pull of the hand upon the lever-handle l8 and by pushing down on this handle the covcrcrs may e lifted out of the soil.

' Referring now p; :ticnlarlv to Figs. l. 4 and with reference t tho dr-viws for preventing the horses walking on the ridge f earth over the previhu ly planted row. I consn'nci lllc forward cnd of the frame 2 as tapering and al this forward 1 nd l place a bearing bracket r tlnouglrwhiuh passes a short shaft with a pinion r on the 'ldxWrv'rhl of llnshortshaft and a handlcr' so cured to thenppor or projecting end of the short shaft: the pinion being turned by tlic' lnrudlc. To this forward end of 1hr fmnn- 2 I sti-nro'p-hnllcl ban-s s. s on v the teeth of the pinion r pivots 21 near the opposite edges and these bars move over the upper face of the frame 2. Between and to the back ends of the divided pole 11 I secure a platform t preferably of metal and the free ends of the'parallcl bars s are connected at opposite pivots 22 platform t. I The platform t is provided at its back edge with a segmentrack t. the teeth of which mesh with the forward portion of the frame 2 and a series of holes in corresponding positions in each of the parallel bars 8. s 'and a locking pin 23 is employed so as topass through one of the holes either of the bar 3 or the bar into one of the holes in the forward portion of the frame 2 so as to lock the hole and platform 1 in a prodi-n-rmined relation with the frame L. and the potato-pluming machine. Fig. 4 shows the extreme positi n and the relation of these parts with reference to one another. and the PTOIJOI'flOIlS of the parts are so arranged and formed that when the pin 23 iswitlnlrawn the hondle r and pinion 1" may be rotated so as to m w the segment rack I. the platform I. and divided pole ll and swing the same with reference to the frmnc 2 if rho potato-planterupon the parallel bars 8. s from Ilnpm sition Fig. 4 nearer to the center or over to llll o osite side.

Supposing the position. Fig. 4 to e the culll-cl position for use. in passing down and planting :1 field in one direction. to return and plant the next r w lfl t cially where the rows are put as close as l\\cl1l inches apart. it will be found neccsnir v fto swing the divided pole as muchto the opposite side, inf the frame 1 as it is swung to one side as shown in i 'g. 4. and with (:llll return over the field the position. of the pole is to h;- changed so that the horses in trav ling may not disllll'l the last made row of potatoes plaJited. y

it will be apparent that with he pole thrown to om side as hereinbefore described. that there is a slight side draft and this is compensated for by the position of the bars which are pivoted slightly closer at the from indirectly causing the-plow to point slightly toward the side of the line of draft and inlthis way tln; machine will run true although possibly it will take a little morepower than if running dirc -t and straight ahead.

The improved polo device hdrcinlwforc dcscrrln-d. forms the subject f a separate zlnlpliczllion for lA-t n-rs Patent. v

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination in a potato planter with a supportin; frame. a' potato magazine and means for delivering ill! potatoes to be planted from the magazine. of lh-xll'dv lmllvrial suck hoppers of tapering: form. a moral fruuncounectcd to the upper edges of said hoppers and from which the sack hoppers hang by gravity and vertical frame nn-mhers secured to the said metal frame at ourondmnl to the frame of the machine at the other cud for supportin: the said hoppers.

2. The combination in a potato plantvr with :1 sup ortin frame. :1 receiving magazine or hopper and meansfor delivering the po atoes to e planted from the magazine. of flexible material sack hoppers of tuprrinL' i'orm. a metal frame connected to the upper edges of said hopper and from which the sack hoppers hung by gravity. vertical tram" members secur d to the said metal frame at one end and to the frame of the machine at the other end for supp rting the said hoppers and means supported in proximity lu the said ack hoppers and acting upon tlnsumo for l'r-glllill'lnfl' the delivery of the potatoes tlwrol'rom.

1. The combination in a potato plnulcr with the from", the receiving magazine or hopper associated therewith. the

There is a series of holes in to the said concaves and the so es"of p'i'el ers. of vertical frame members secured at the sides to the frame of the machine a l rising therefrom. a strap frame of metal in an elevated position secured to said vertical frame members and tlexible sack hoppers hang-inc by gravity and located at either side of the eoneaves and sorts of pickers. and secured at the upper ends to said strap frame.

4. The combination in a potato planter with the frame, the receiving magazine or hopper sociated therewith, the concaves and the series of picker's. of vertical frame members secured at the sides to the frme of the machine and rising therefrom; a strap train or metal in an elevated position secured to said vertical frame members and flexible sack hoppers hanging" by gravity and located at either side of the concaves and series of pickers. and secured at the upper ends to said strap frame and devices bearing upon said flexible sack hoppers and means for actuating the same for controlling: the deliveryof the potatoes from said sack hoppers to the hopper adjacent to the concaves and pickers. i

5. The combination in a potatoplanter with the frame. the receiving hopper-associated therewith. thcconcaves and the series of pickers. ofxei'tieal frame members secured at the sides to the frame of the machine and'rising therefronnfa strap frame of metal inan elevated position secured to said vertical frame inenibers. flexible sack hop pers hanging by gravity and located at either side of the .eonc'aves and ies of pickers. and secured at the upper ends to said strap frame. a rocker bar e-pivoted to the verthe lower inner portions of said sack hoppers and in turn secured to said rocker bar and having lower ends at an inclination to the main connected portions and means for swingin" said gates on saidrocker bar for controlling the delive of he potatoes from the sack hoppers.

(i. The combination in a potato-planter with the frame,

the receiving hopper associated therewith. the concavesand the' series of pickers. of vertical frame member cured at the sides to the frame of the machine and r secured to said vertical frame members, flexible sack hoppers hanging by gravity and located at either side of the concaves and series of pickers. and secured at the upper ends to said strap frame. arockcr bar 0 journaled in the vertical frame members. gates bearing against and secured to the lower inner portions of said sack hoppers and in turn secultd'to said rocker bar and having lower ends at 'an inclination to the'main connected portions. devices connect'ed to the upper ends of the said gates and havingan adjustable relation to one another and to the gates and'a connection therefrom to the main axle of the machine and a spring coa ct'ing therewith.

7. In a potato-planter. the combination with a flexible sack hopper and a frame supporting the same. at a rot-her 5 bar in trunnions in said frame. a gate in the form of a metal plate secured to said rocker bar and also secured to the flexible aelt hopp r. a main axle. a head with an eccentric device connected therewith and a connecting rod therefrom. a ton -1e bar at one end pivoted to said connect-v in rod and at its other end to a pivotal connection with the upper end of the gate. a spring connected to the upper end of the to nie bar at one end and at its other end to a tixed support and means for adjusting the relation of the (lt'fllllfh' of movement.

In a ptirate-planter. the combination with a flexible sack hopper and a frame supporting the, same. of a rocker bar in trunnions in saidframe. a gate in the fOl'll) of a m tal plate secured to said rocker bar and also secured to the flexible sack hopper. a main axle. a head with an eccentric device connected therewith and a connecting rod therefrom. a toggle bar at one end pivoted to said connectin; rud and at its other endto a pivotal connee ion with the upper end of the gate. a spring connected to the upper end of the toggle bar at one end and at its oth r end to a tixed support, means for adjusting the relation of the said gate. the toggle bar and connecting rod for different deof movement. the said gate, plate having a bent. lower "end 'at an'obtuse ang e thereto and provided with one or tical frame members. gates bearing against and secured to therefrom. a strap frame of metal in an elevated position said gat the toggle bar and connecting rod for different ribbed edges for strengthening and stiffening the and a gr avitv member pivotally connected to the lower portion of said bent end, said parts serving to regu-' late the delivery of the potatoes from the hopper.

t), in a potato planter. the combination with a main axle and surronnt'iing sleeve, of a series of pickers, low-cut heads surrounding and secured to said sleeves and forming supports for the pickers, substantially as set forth, whereby the potatoes are not liable to be caught between the head supports for the pickers.

10. Ina potat -p lanter, the combination with a main axle and a surrounding sleeve, of two spaced'apart low cut heads each having three projecting portions surrounding and secured to the slecveand two series of pickers three in each series secured to said heads and arranged alternately the one to the other, so that there is no liability of the potatoes being caught between the spaced'apart heads.

11. In a potato-planter, the combination with a main axle, a sleeve surrounding the same and a series of pickers mounted to revolve with said sleeve, of a driving wheel of the planter loose upon said axle, a gear secured to said wheel, an adjacent gear secured to said axle, a stud upon the frame and superimposed associated gears mounted revolubly upon said stud and meshing with the aforesaid gears whereby the pickers are rotated from said driving wheel through the main axle whereby their speed of rotation is controlled.

12. In a potato-planter, the combination with a main axleand a stud l secured to the mainframe parallel therewith, of a main wheel loose upon said axlefa gear 70 secured to said wheel. interlocking gears 1 Z upon said stud, the first of said gears meshing with the gear k, a gear m back of the gear is and secured to the axle and meshing with the gear Z the gears k, l l bein'g removable and interchangeable. with other gears, whereby the rotation and power of the main wheel is communicated and transferred to the axle and its ratio of rotation controlled.

13. In a potato planter, the combination withmeans for holding and means for delivering potatoes upon the ground, and coverers for covering the same with earth, and an axle for said coverors, of the arms 15 extending from the said axle. the brackets 16 connected with a fixed part of the machine and to which the arms 15 are secured, theyokc'bar'27 connected at its free ends to said brackets and a spring 1 9 secured at one end to a fixed part ofthe machine and at its other end to the said vyoke-bar 27, said connection being at a point distant from the coverers for increased leverage and more perfect controls 1- in a potato planter, the combination with means for holding and means for delivering potatoes upon the ground, and coverers for covering the same with earth, and an axle for said covet-err. of the arms 15 extending from said axle, the brackets 16 connected with a tixd part of the machine and to which the arms 15 are secured, the yoke-bar 27 connected at its free ends to said brackets, a spring 19 position of the operator.

1:. In a potato planter, the combination with means for holding and means for delivering'potatoes upon the ground,

covet-er di. (5 for covering the same with earth, and an axle for and extending between tlie said coverers, of the arms l-t extending from connections with the said axle, lues til) upon the main axle sleeve, brackets 16 secured to the arms 15. pivot pins securing the brackets 16 and the tree bcnt ends of the arms 15 to the said lugs 30, a yokebar connected at its free ends to the brackets lGand crossinn over the forward part. oflthe machin, a handle 18 and bracket eye-bar spring 1.) connected and at its o;'.tcr end Signed by me this .;1 secured to the yokebar 27, and a at one end to the bracket eye-bar 31 to a fixed part of the machine. second day of April 1906. LEWIS AUGUSTUS ASPINWALL.

Witnesses tino. N. Wn'trxnx E. JUBIVGBEEN 

